Live divinely.

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We all know that exercise is amazing for our body for so many reasons, but it seems that not many of us realize how great it is for our skin too! Makeup works wonders for concealing and enhancing our natural beauty, but nothing is better than naturally clear skin. One good sweat every day truly makes a difference in our complexion. Here’s how:

Exercising makes us sweat. And sweating helps the body clear toxins that can clog pores and pester our skin with pimples and other types of blemishes. Less pimples means less reason to pick at our face, which could possibly cause scarring, thereby leaving it nice and flawless. (Yay!)

When we exercise, our muscles get toned, which in turn helps the skin look tighter. This is also helpful for those looking to reduce the appearance of cellulite.

It gets the blood flowing! And increased blood flow brings more oxygen to the skin. Along with a boost in blood flow and oxygen to the skin come other sources of nourishment that enhance the skin’s health. When our skin is healthy it releases natural oils that won’t require the use of as much moisturizer. (Winter is coming, and for most of us winter is also bringing dry skin season with it!)

So the next time you’re wondering what it is that can help your skin clear up, or wondering why all those expensive facials aren’t quite helping, try putting on those tennis shoes and going about it the natural way – exercise!

Once November hits us, so does the pressure! No, we don’t mean the pressure to shop for holiday gifts, or think of a great turkey recipe for Thanksgiving dinner, but the pressure to feel grateful. We devote so much time and energy into planning for the holidays ahead, that often we overlook taking the time to nurture our mental and emotional well being. Cultivating gratitude is a proven way to feel better and happier, so we thought we’d share our top four tips on how to experience genuine gratitude every day.

1. Look for what’s good: The mind can be like a magnet for both positive and negative things, and very often we let our minds focus too much on what stressed us out. Instead of that, try to focus your mind on what’s good around you in the precise moment that you are in, whether it’s someone’s brightly colored scarf, or a nice cool breeze, keep your attention on those things around you that make you feel good.

2. Gratitude Journal: One of our favorite tricks for feeling grateful is keeping a gratitude journal, and writing down at least 5 things that we are grateful for every day. At the end of the year you can look through it and physically experience the bounty of life by flipping through page after page of your self-expressed gratitude. Another version of this would be a jar that you slowly fill up with with colorful post-its full of what you’re thankful for (and it makes for super cute desk decor!)

3. Say it out loud: There is no better way to reconnect with old friends or reignite old friendships than by offering a quick thank you for everything they’ve offered to your life. Whether you send a handwritten note, or simply send a cute meme over Facebook, sharing your gratitude with another not only strengthens your bond, but adds to your experience of gratitude by including others in it.

4. Helping Others: There are as many ways to help out others as there are people on this planet that need help! Whether it’s through work with an official charity or simply a shopping trip for an elderly or disabled neighbor, self sacrifice is the fastest road to gratitude that we know. A great resource for finding volunteer opportunities in your area is VolunteerMatch.org, a website specializing in matching people to volunteer options that are close to their areas and their hearts. And if you’re hard pressed for ideas on where to help out, don’t forget noya’s alliance with the National Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) Council to distribute free lip balm to homeless and low income people. For every lip balm you purchase and send a photo of, noya will donate one to the National HCH Council, while supplies lasts. Click here for more details: buy a balm, give a balm

We hope these suggestions help you to dedicate just a few minutes a day to cultivating gratitude, and spark your imagination to find your own ways to fill yourself with the joy of gratitude. Let us know what you like to do to stay upbeat, positive and full of thanks, and as always, live divinely!

What’s scarier than zombies and ghosts? Waking up to find your skin’s been cursed – from blemishes to dryness, no one likes dealing with unexpected surprises on their face (or anywhere else, for that matter). There are so many things that can affect the body’s largest organ, from hormones to stress to cold weather, and here at noya we like to think ahead. So here are some tips that will help keep your skin in shape through any of life’s little tricks and treats!

1. Keep hydrated – The key to great skin starts on the inside so drink up! The cooler months tend to make us less inclined to drink the recommended 8 glasses but your skin’s happiness depends on it. A tip to staying hydrated – invest in a reusable water bottle and bring it everywhere with you.

2. Stay clean – Make sure to wash your face twice a day, one in the morning and once at night. If you wear makeup, make sure that you are actually getting it all off in the evening. Clogged pores are the easiest way to find yourself battling those face demons!

3. Tone it down – Nowadays, most people skip this vital step in cleaning their face but toner helps to insure that every last trace of dirt is off swiped off your skin and tightens pores to boot! Make sure your toner’s alcohol free so it doesn’t create any unwanted dryness!

4. Moisturize twice – Most people use lotions and moisturizers after showering in the morning, but doing so a second time in the evening will insure against pesky dry patches on your face and all over your body. If you are feeling lazy, hit the spots that need it the most – lips, elbows, and knees.

5. Oil yourself – The newest trend in skin care is using natural, essential oils to moisturize rather than your typical lotions and creams. They restore your skins natural oils and absorb deep into the skin rather than sit on top of it. Some good options are Argan Oil, Coconut Oil (a power ingredient in our noya balms!) and Tea Tree Oil (for spot treatment of blemishes).

6. Rest and relaxation – Stress can be a major cause of all types of skin issues, from zits to redness or blotchiness, and once your skin’s all out of whack, your anxiety levels only get worse, so our last suggestion is to get 8 hours of sleep. After all, they don’t call it “beauty sleep” for nothing 😉

These are our top 6 suggestions for maintaining healthy and happy skin through any of life’s little ghouls. Whether it’s a seasonal cold haunting you or the hair-raising cooling temps, keep your defenses high by sticking to these few suggestions. Have any secret skin-care weapons you wanna share? Leave them in a comment below, and as always, live divinely!

Bold lips practically kicked you in the eyes all over the 2013 Fall runways – from matte reds to rich burgundies, the fashion world made one thing clear – this Fall is all about the romantic, wine stained lip favored by rockers and modern, chic fashionistas alike. Two of our favorite bold fall looks were the easy-to-wear Rouged lips and the darker, edgier Rouge Noir lips. We thought these two looks were especially interesting because of how easy it is to go from one to the other, simply with an extra swipe of lipstick. Here is how you can go from Rouged to Rouge Noire in just a few simple steps:

Rouged Lips

The idea behind this look is a simple, 1940’s inspired stain. To start off, make sure your lips are nice and moisturized by priming with your favorite lip balm a few minutes before applying any color to your lips. (noya lip balms are both hydrating enough to pull off this look and lightweight enough to act as a great base! That’s a self-promoting tip, we know 🙂 )

Using a clean fingertip,lightly dab on your favorite wine or burgundy lipstick (the darker, the better!) For extra staying power, dab your lips on a tissue and repeat the step. The lips should look flushed, without any harsh edges or lines.

Another take on this look would be similar to another on-trend look – the ombre effect. Repeat the above steps, but instead of applying the color all over the lips, leave the center bare. After you complete the application, clean up the center with a clean q-tip. This is look is subtle enough for daytime, but is romantic enough to make a great, kissable date-lip.

Rouge Noir

We just love looks that can transition from day to night, or in this case from Rouged to Rouge Noir! To do so, start of by staining the lip with the method described above, and then add on a thicker layer directly from the tube to the lips, being careful to go all the way to the very edge of the lip. This will achieve the more Grunge-inspired edge that the Rouge Noir takes its cue from as well as create the illusion of super plum puckers!

Once you’ve applied a generous layer of lipstick to your lips, go around the edges with a matching plum lip liner to create super defined edges to the lip-look and to insure that the lip stick won’t feather throughout the night. If you’re feeling extra daring, use a dark brown or black liner for that super vampy look 🙂

We love how easy this look is to take from daytime appropriate to nighttime chic.The burgundy family of lipsticks is one of those iconic, autumnal colors that is sure to stay in-fashion for years to come, so if you haven’t already, we would highly recommend adding one to your collection this fall. Let us know what your favorite 2013 lip trend is, and as always, live divinely.

If you love fruit as much as we do, put some on your face! That’s right, nature’s dessert can double as fantastic treats for your skin! Check out our list of the top ten fruits that work wonders inside and out:

1. Lemon – Full of Vitamin C, B, and Phosphorus, lemon has a number of benefits for skin of all types. Rub some on elbows to get rid of discoloration, or use lemon juice in a mask to treat acne and blemishes, as well as to add a youthful glow to the skin.

2. Avocado – The Vitamin A in this magic fruit (that’s right – avocado is a tropical fruit!) helps clear skin of dead cells, while antioxidants make it a great weapon against wrinkles and dullness. Making a mask from this tasty treat is a cinch – just mash it up and apply directly to your face!

3. Bananas – Everyone’s favorite yellow friends are more than just a source of potassium, they’re packed full of Vitamins A, B, and E making them a great anti-aging mask. Smash one up and use it as a mask for fresh, glowy skin.

4. Apple – They don’t just keep the doctor away but fine lines and wrinkles too! Packed with collagen, elastin, and Vitamin C, an apple-peel mask is a quick and easy way to perk up the skin.

6. Kiwi – This power fruit is the leading source of Vitamin C and also contains a ton of Vitamin E – both fantastic anti-aging vitamins. Cut into slices and place over eyes to reduce puffiness and darkness.

8. Pineapple – Not only is pineapple full of Vitamin A and C (both great for anti-aging benefits) but the enzymes in this tasty fruit improve skin elasticity and hydration, while removing dead cells. Use a big slice in the shower as a loofa for skin that’s soft, glowy and sweet.

9. Tomato – That’s right folks- tomatoes are a fruit, and one chock-full of Vitamin C, A and anti-oxidants. And because it’s high in acidity, it’s perfect for balancing oily, acne prone skin. Just cut in half and rub on on your face for a cooling and toning mask. So easy!

10. Cucumber – No list of beauty boosters would be complete without this super star, crammed full of Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, Calcium, Iron, and Folic Acid, you can quickly grate a fresh cucumber and mix with water for an all-over face mask that hydrates dull, dry skin leaving behind a youthful glow.

Phew! When it comes to beauty, nature doesn’t mess around 😉 Who would have thought that all the best beauty secrets are hiding in your fridge? Let us what beauty superstars hide in YOUR fridge in the comments below, and as always, live divinely.

“It’s too hard to go natural!” This is the response we hear most often around the beauty community when the talk turns to natural cosmetics. This is a sentiment we ourselves once held (and why we created our own natural, tasty balms to begin with!) In response to this desperate cry for help, we decided to throw together a few tips on going au-natural:

– Read the label: Ingredient names should not be tongue twisters.

– Keep it Simple: Natural cosmetic brands tend to be transparent about the ingredients they use, and use as little artificial components as possible (our Classic Balm boasts just four ingredients!)

– Cram Session: The best way to be informed is to do quick search on all-natural ingredients. EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic’s Database has information on over 79,000 ingredients, while the daily green blog includes some great, informative articles on the topic of all-natural cosmetics.

– Unexpected Places: Check out health stores and holistic pharmacies for new makeup finds. There are some cool, natural brands that are only sold in these types of outlets, and the selection can be pretty extensive, for those of us who love options.

– Research it: If an ingredient on a label is unfamiliar, look inside the parentheses! Cosmetics must list the ingredients in their scientific format, but usually include the more-recognized name too. Sometimes seemingly frightening words like Olea Europaea turn out to be nothing more than olive oil 😉

Hopefully the above tips will help you get started on your search for brands and products that are derived from mother nature herself!

What other tips can you think of for spotting good, all-natural makeup alternatives? Let us know below, and as always, live divinely.

And since you’re giving to the homeless, we’re giving back to you: while entries are limited to one per person, your creativity doesn’t have to be. The most creative photo submission will win its sender a year-long supply of lip balm for herself and three friends. Now that’s sure to perk up anyone’s pout!

We searched meticulously through charities that would be a perfect fit for us until we finally found The National Health Care for the Homeless (HCH), who will help us distribute the balms. We are so excited to contribute to their cause. And you can now help us by giving a much needed, and sometimes overlooked, self-care staple.

Let us know in the comments how YOU like to give back, and as always, live divinely 😉

The nitty gritty:

NOYA will be making donations while supplies last, and submissions are limited to one purchased balm per person. Submissions must include a picture of you holding your newly purchased NOYA lip balm through any of the above mentioned outlets.

Please note that by submitting your photo publically, you are giving us the right to upload and share your image on our twitter, instagram, website, facebook, youtube, pintrest and all other avenues associated with the NOYA brand. Submissions through email are excluded from this, we recognize and respect your request for privacy.